Protective cover for wrist watches



A ril 21, 1953 J. c. MIETCHEN y PROTECTIVE COVER FOR WRIST WATCHES Filed Sept. 15, 1952 I 3nventor: JEROME c. MIETCHEN,

Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROTECTIVE COVER FOR WRIST WATCHES Jerome C. Mietchen, Ogden, Utah Application September 15, 1952, Serial No. 309,626

5 Claims.

This invention relates to protective enclosures for wrist watches and more especially to such enclosures which are snapped into the wearing position.

Important objects of the invention are to provide a protective enclosure which is:

(a) Easily and quickly applied or removed while the watch is Worn.

(b) Inconspicuous.

Instrumental in keeping the watch dial visible.

((1) Inexpensive.

The protective enclosure of the invention is intended largely for use by mechanics or other workmen whose employment subjects a wrist watch to exposure in places where grease, dust or other contaminating substances are likely to be encountered. The use of the enclosure, however, is not so restricted.

When a workman begins his daily occupation the protective cover is quickly applied to a wrist watch and at the end of the working day the cover is just as quickly removed.

In order to accomplish the quick application or quick removal of the enclosing structure, it is advantageously made in two parts, a base and a recessed cover. The base is easily and quickly slipped under the wrist watch in its wearing position without removing the watch from the usual holding strap. After insertion of the base, the cover is easily brought into position over the Watch and is quickly snapped down into secure engagement with the base. Removal of the base is facilitated by means of a fingernail recess at one or more corners of the base.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates an excellent embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 represents a top plan of the protective enclosure with a wrist watch in place therein;

Fig. 2, an end elevation of the protective enclosure alone;

Fig. 3, a side elevation of the protective enclosure alone;

Fig. 4, a plan of the base portion of the protective enclosure apart from the cover portion;

Fig. 5, a longitudinal section taken on the line 55 in Fi 1;

Fig. 6, a transverse section taken on the line B6 in Fig. 3, the base and upper portion being slightly separated from each other;

Fig. '7, a section similar to Fig. 6 after the two parts have been securely snapped together;

Fig. 8, a section taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates the protective enclosure assembled around 2 a watch while the latter is in place on the wrist of its wearer, the watch being at 25.

The protective enclosure consists of a base H and a recessed cover l2 which engages the base H so as to form a separable housing structure. The two ends of the base are notched as indicated at 13 in Fig. 4, for engagement by the usual strap [4, which is used to fasten the watch to the wrist of the wearer.

In Fig. 5, the base II is shown in the position of resting on the surface l5 of a wearers wrist, the recessed cover l2 having meanwhile been snapped into position so as to complete the protective structure. In order to effect the snapon engagement between the cover l2 and the base ll the latter is provided with mutually opposing notched portions 18 extending along the sides of the base. At the same time, in order to complete that engagement, the cover 12 has mutually opposing, claw-like, depending projections I'I, Figs. 3 and 6. In snapping the two parts of the protective enclosure together, the cover I2 is first brought into a position, Fig. 6, where the claws I! are ready to contact the upper surface of the base ll.

Thereupon, a slight pressure exerted on the resilient top l8 of the cover l2, causes the spread of the claws ll, and the closing snap thereof into the gripping position on the base H, as soon as the pressure is relieved.

In removing the protective enclosure from the wrist l5 of the wearer, the recessed cover l2 may first be lifted off the watch by inserting, for illustration, the nail [9 of a thumb or finger 20 of the wearer, in a niche 2! at a corner of the base I l. Next, the base is slipped transversely from its position under the watch. The two parts may then be snapped together for safe keeping until used again. For convenience, there may be a niche 2| at each of the four corners of the device, the niches being formed by beveling the upper surface of base II as indicated at 22, Figs. 3 and 4.

In Fig. 4, the dotted lines 23 intersecting the dotted lines 24, indicate the fact that the notches [6 in which the cover locks are normal to the notches l3 which accommodate the two end portions of the usual wristband.

It may be stated that the scale to which the various figures are drawn is somewhat in excess of the natural size of the respective parts.

What is claimed is:

l. A protective enclosure for wrist watches, comprising a substantially plane base having a pair of mutually opposing notches adapted to accommodate mutually opposing portions of a Watch wrist band, another pair of mutually opposing notches positioned substantially normal to the position of the first-mentioned notches; a snap-on cover adapted for association with said base, said cover having a pair of mutually opposing, depending claws located transversely thereof so as to register with the second-mentioned mutually opposing base notches in a manner such, that said depending claws are firmly engaged with said base.

2. A protective enclosure for wrist watches according to claim 1, wherein the said cover is transversely resilient for the purpose of normally biasing the said claws inwardly in order to im pose a yielding transverse pressure upon said base inwardly of the second-mentioned notches.

3. A protective enclosure for wrist watches according to claim 2, wherein said base is undercut transversely and inwardly of the secondmentioned notches so as to accommodate the inwardly extending tips of said claws.

4. A protective enclosure for wrist watches according to claim 3, wherein said base is provided. with an overcut, beveled corner portion which is adapted in conjunction with the lower surface of a corner portion of said cover, to form a niche for receiving the fingernail of the wearer of saidv protective enclosure.

5. A protective enclosure for wrist watches,

JEROME C. MIET'CHEN. No references cited. 

